National Eat Your Vegetables Day Launches Kids' Book

Today is national Eat Your Vegetables Day and the launch of The Prisoner of Carrot Castle print book. Originally published as an interactive picture book on the Apple AppStore, the book is now available in print.

The book app has been downloaded more than 40,000 times AND hit the #1 Spot in Top Free iPad Book Apps during a recent Memorial Day promotion. The print edition of The Prisoner of Carrot Castle hit the Direct-to-Consumer market June 15th. Visit the website www.purplecarrotbooks.com

From the Press Release:

Brought to young readers aged 2 – 8 by the independent publishing partnership of Purple Carrot Books and Possibility Books. For founder/author and wellness coach and blogger Chris Pedersen, creating children’s healthy eating books is all about getting kids to learn good eating habits now so they won’t face the life-altering cancer she fought by changing her diet completely. Says Pedersen, “I have a passion for healthy eating and teaching others how to be healthy. Out of this passion, being a children’s writer and wishing to contribute to the fight against childhood obesity, I wrote The Prisoner of Carrot Castle.”

Have you read The Prisoner of Carrot Castle? Love to hear your reaction.

Aiden Goes to School and Travels the World

Great Way to Launch a Book
Reading the newly released Prisoner of Carrot Castle to five classrooms of 1st and 2nd graders at the Arlene Hein Elementary School in Elk Grove, California was a great way to launch a book app. Local authors were invited to read during the school's annual Read-a-thon. The Prisoner of Carrot Castle wowed the kids being the only digital interactive book at the event.

The students and teachers loved it! Most had never seen an iPad storybook app before. Having a passion for storytelling and a heart for children, I enjoyed reading with enthusiasm—getting into each character of the story.

A red cape and an over-sized wooden fork served as a costume for one child to "become" Aiden as I read the story. What a perfect way to enjoy the story of a boy who loved to costume play. Everyone wanted to be Aiden.

At the end of each reading, I allowed the children to play the games included in the app. They really enjoyed the hands-on experience. I explained the “Read to Me” feature and showed the students how to use it.

After school, the authors convened in the multi-purpose room and signed and sold books. I signed and sent home colorful postcards of The Prisoner of Carrot Castle with details on the app and how to order it.

The children had many questions. (These are bright kids with a great future!) They wanted to know: How long does it take to build an app? How did you come up with the story? Is it a regular book, too? Are you making other story apps? Can I dress the knight next?


Aiden Travels to More Countries

Aiden's been busy showing up in more countries around the world. Add Ireland, France, Norway and Indonesia to the countries enjoying The Prisoner of Carrot Castle.

Would you like The Prisoner of Carrot Castle read at your school?

Children: The Spark of Life

The Tire Swing Crew: 
sister Steph, brother Mark and husband Bob

My mother is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease and confined to a wheelchair. The one thing that brings a spark to her life is having her great grandkids around. She comes alive with smiles and giggles, finding words to say... even complete sentences, albiet short ones.

"Aren't they cute!" Mom would say as she watched Drew (3) and Kenan (2) greet each other with a hug.



Our traditional Saturday morning coffee extends three generations now with many of our kids married and having their own children. One Saturday a month, we pick up our coffee drinks and breakfast of choice and meet at the nursing home where Mom lives. Since breakfast for the nursing residents is done, we wheel Mom to the dining room and have it all to ourselves.

Drew and Kenan Enjoying a Swing on the Tire

Last weekend we arranged for a medi-van to transport Mom to my brother's for a family BBQ. It had been two years since Mom left the nursing home except for trips by ambulance to the hospital. Her five children, six of her eight grandchildren (all adults), and five of her great grandkids were there to spark up her life.



The highlight of the day and the delight of Mom centered on the installation and enjoyment of a tire swing. Imagine Mom's amusement as she watched her kids and great grandkids tackle the tire swing.

Feeding Grass to Dolly, the Miniature Horse Next Door

Enjoy the humorous videos and photos of the afternoon. Although the memory for Mom likely won't "stick," it made for a memorable event for the rest of us.

Feeding the Fish in the Backyard Fountain

Why I Write for Children

I am passionate about writing for children. They are our future. It is our job to nurture them to become independent, caring and productive adults. Writing books for children is one way I can have an impact on the growth and character of children.

Those of you who follow my blog will remember my grand-nephew Drew. I featured Drew in my post Precious Moments of Independence. His mom recently bought him "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. After a few readings by mom and dad, Drew could read for himself... with a smidge of help. Drew is a very bright four-year-old despite his autism. A diagnosis of autism does not preclude a child from learning. Check out his "reading" skills on the video.

Reading to children is the best way to get your child to be a good reader. It opens up new worlds and experiences for their growing minds to soak up.

FREE Online Conference for Children's Writers

Everyone Is Talking About WriteOnCon

If you haven't heard, there will be a FREE online conference called WriteOnCon for those of us who write for children. Yes... you heard right. A FREE conference on Tuesday, August 12 - Thursday, August 14, 2010. That's in two weeks!

There are a number of authors, editors and agents involved in this effort. It will be an interactive experience designed to give attendees similar features to a live conference, but in an online environment. The conference promises to be informative as well as entertaining.

With an eager intent to pay it forward, the founders of WriteOnCon have put together what looks to be a great online conference. So what are you waiting for? Go to WriteOnCon and register. Click on the Forums button at the top then click Register to get started.

I hope you'll look for me there.

Overview of Children's Book Categories

In one of my writing groups, we are studying Nancy Lamb's book "The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children." Taking one chapter at a time, we discuss it through our group blog called Wruffed Writers (writers getting buffed as we work to build our craft).

The first four chapters have been led by Sue Tornai and she has done a marvelous job. Chapter three outlines the children's book categories. You'll want to bookmark From ABC to YA: An Overview to size up your children's book manuscripts. Thank you, Sue, for doing a terrific job.

And if you want all the detail for yourself written in a very engaging style with lots of book samples listed, pick up "The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children." This book delivers.

Feel free to sign up for a feed or email subscription to Wruffed Writers. Come follow along and learn with us.

Get Paid for Articles in Children's Magazines

It's official. I'm now a paid freelance writer. My first check for my writing comes from Focus on the Family for "It's a Dog's Job But Somebody's Gotta Do It" to be published in Clubhouse Jr. magazine. Pretty exciting! Although I started on this path hoping to publish a picture book—that will happen—I learned at last year's Mount Hermon Writers Conference that writing articles is a good place to start. And... let's be honest here. Will my picture book sell 65,000 copies? I wish! That's the circulation of Clubhouse Jr.

For those who write for children, I've listed the top magazine publishers. Click on the magazine name to see the writer's guidelines. Finding the guidelines for each magazine is a challenging exercise—they don't make it simple. All of these publications accept unsolicited freelance submissions, some up to 80%. The magazines marked with an asterisk (*) are Christian themed.

American Girl Girls 8 - 12, Circ. 600,000

Boys' Life Boys 8 - 18, Circ. 11 million (whoa!)

Boys' Quest Boys 5 - 14

Clubhouse* 8 - 12, Circ. 90,000

Clubhouse Jr* 4 - 8, Circ. 65,000

Cricket 9 - 14, Circ. 55,000

Fun For Kidz 5 - 14

Highlights 6 - 12, Circ. 2 million

Hopscotch Girls 5 - 14, Circ. 14,000

Jack And Jill 7 - 10, Circ. 360,000

Ladybug 3 - 6, Circ. 130,000

New Moon Girls 8 - 14, Circ. 30,000

Pockets* 6 - 11, Circ. 67,000

Shine Brightly* Girls 9 - 14, Circ. 13,000

Sparkle* Girls 6 - 9, Circ. 5,000

Spider 6 - 9, Circ. 70,000

I hope this makes it helpful for you to submit articles for magazines. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.

Sold... to Clubhouse Jr. Magazine

I heard from Suzanne Gosselin, editor of Clubhouse Jr. Magazine on Friday February 12th. They love my non-fiction article on dog jobs, It's a Dog's Job But Somebody's Gotta Do It.... and they will be purchasing the article! WaaaaaaaaaHooooooooo! I screamed for joy when I read the email. Yes! I am excited! Clubhouse Jr. has a circulation of 65,000.

Our twenty-eight-year-old son read all the Focus on the Family children's magazines while growing up: Clubhouse Jr. (ages 4 - 8), Clubhouse (ages 8 - 12) and the no longer produced Breakaway (boys 12 - 18). These wonderful, fun-filled magazines will delight your kids and grandkids. Get them a subscription for an upcoming birthday or Easter. Even a savvy two-year-old, like my grandnephew, loves Clubhouse Jr.

Blog Traffic Grows a Platform

The Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure visible from space. Now that's a platform!

As writers we learn that having a platform is important. Just what is a platform you might ask? To the unpublished writer it appears daunting... actually downright impossible. "What? I need how many people who know and follow me?"

In simple terms, the dictionary defines platform as a raised level surface on which people can stand. In other words, a platform boosts you above the noise and people notice. For example, Jamie Lee Curtis is a well-known actor. That is her platform. She wrote her first children's book When I Was Little and Harper Collins snapped up the manuscript. They knew her celebrity would be an instant market for selling her book.

OK... we all can't be actors, but we can grow an audience for our work... our style... our voice. Technology supplies the perfect vehicle:  The blog. 

If you build it, they will come. Yes they will, if simple guidelines are followed. Then be patient. Continue to work those guidelines and as time passes, you will see the traffic increase to your blog.

I found a great two-part post by guest blogger Jennifer Fulwiler titled How To Build Traffic on Your Blog (Part 1) and (Part 2) on Rachelle Gardner's Blog site. I'm sure you will find it helpful in growing your platform.

Top 10 Tips for Children's Fiction Writers

The top 10 tips for writing fiction for children provided by Greenhouse Literary Agency. Make a copy and tape close by your keyboard for easy reference.

Number 6 can be a struggle for me. Once you set your POV keep it consistent. Number 11, however, is the best. If you embrace 11 and follow the 10, you'll have a winner.

Tell me which tip you found most useful. 

Writing For Kids — Alleluia!

He is Risen — Alleluia!

I went to the Mount Hermon Writer's Conference and came home with my mind filled to the brim. I made many new friends from all over the country. It was an incredible experience. Go to Inspire Writers to read more about my experience at the conference.

Writing for children is a particular craft all to itself. I took the Children's Writing track with Mona Hodgson who has written numerous children's books from picture books to middle grade non-fiction. With 21 years of experience, she packed a lot of great material in the 9 hours of workshop.

She revealed requirements we must possess to write great material for children and important aspects, such as: 

• Why write for children?
• Where to look for ideas
• What formats for each age group

Mona covered details about each type of book, the various formats and relevant age groups as well as all facets of story construction and how to submit manuscripts for each. She opened our eyes to others forms of writing for children, for example:

• Magazines
• Church take home papers
• Devotionals
• Curriculum
• Poetry
• Miscellaneous (e.g., rebus, puzzles, activities, cartoon, crafts and quizzes)

In future posts I will talk about a particular area about writing for children that I learned, for example, how to write a cover letter for your manuscript.

Tell me what you would like to know about writing for children.